Intermediate unit and camera system

Abstract

Provided is an intermediate unit including a first connect unit, a second connect unit, and an information bridge unit. The first connect unit is for connecting a camera unit having a first resolution in one of a spatial direction and a temporal direction. The second connect unit is for connecting a camera control unit for a camera unit having a second resolution lower than the first resolution in one of the spatial direction and the temporal direction. The information bridge unit is interposed between the first connect unit and the second connect unit and configured to bridge information exchanged between the camera unit and the camera control unit.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An intermediate device comprising:
 a first connect circuitry configured to connect to a first cable that directly connects to a first camera having a first resolution in one of a spatial direction and a temporal direction; 
 a second connect circuitry configured to connect to a second cable that directly connects to a camera control unit that controls a second camera, the second camera having a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution in one of the spatial direction and the temporal direction; and 
 an information bridge circuitry positioned between the first connect circuitry and the second connect circuitry and configured to mediate a communication related to camera control between the first camera and the camera control unit via the first cable, the first connect circuitry, the second connect circuitry, and the second cable. 
 
     
     
       2. The intermediate device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to mediate a power supply request between the first camera and the camera control unit. 
     
     
       3. The intermediate device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to
 extract a timing signal from a camera control signal that is received by the second connect circuitry from the camera control unit via the second cable, and 
 control the first connect circuitry to output the timing signal to the first camera via the first cable. 
 
     
     
       4. The intermediate device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first resolution is a 4K resolution, and wherein the second resolution is an HD resolution. 
     
     
       5. The intermediate device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second resolution in the temporal direction is a frame rate of 60 Hz or less. 
     
     
       6. The intermediate device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to
 convert a first video signal into a second video signal, and 
 output the second video signal to the second connect circuitry. 
 
     
     
       7. The intermediate device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to
 perform camera signal processing on a first video signal, and 
 convert the first video signal into a second video signal in response to performing the camera signal processing on the first video signal. 
 
     
     
       8. The intermediate device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a video signal output circuitry that is configured to output the first video signal in response to performing the camera signal processing on the first video signal. 
     
     
       9. The intermediate device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to
 determine whether a first video signal is being output by the first camera, and 
 output a color bar signal corresponding to the first video signal in response to determining that the first video signal is not being output by the first camera. 
 
     
     
       10. The intermediate device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cable is an optical camera cable. 
     
     
       11. The intermediate device according to  claim 10 , wherein the first connect circuitry is configured to communicate with the first camera at a transmission rate of at least 10 GHz via the optical camera cable. 
     
     
       12. A camera system comprising:
 a first cable; 
 a second cable; 
 a first camera configured to output a first video signal having a first resolution in one of a spatial direction and a temporal direction; 
 a camera control unit configured to control a second camera, the second camera having a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution in one of the spatial direction and the temporal direction; and 
 an intermediate device including
 a first connect circuitry coupled to the first camera with the first cable; 
 a second connect circuitry coupled to the camera control unit with the second cable; and 
 an information bridge circuitry connected to the first connect circuitry and the second connect circuitry, the information bridge circuitry configured to mediate a communication related to camera control between the first camera and the camera control unit via the first cable, the first connect circuitry, the second connect circuitry, and the second cable. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The camera system according to  claim 12 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to mediate a power supply request between the first camera and the camera control unit. 
     
     
       14. The camera system according to  claim 12 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to
 extract a timing signal from a camera control signal that is received by the second connect circuitry from the camera control unit via the second cable, and 
 control the first connect circuitry to output the timing signal to the first camera via the first cable. 
 
     
     
       15. The camera system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first resolution is a 4K resolution, and wherein the second resolution is an HD resolution. 
     
     
       16. The camera system according to  claim 12 , wherein the second resolution in the temporal direction is a frame rate of 60 Hz or less. 
     
     
       17. The camera system according to  claim 12 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to
 convert the first video signal into a second video signal, and 
 output the second video signal to the second connect circuitry. 
 
     
     
       18. The camera system according to  claim 12 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to
 perform camera signal processing on the first video signal, and 
 convert the first video signal into a second video signal in response to performing the camera signal processing on the first video signal. 
 
     
     
       19. The camera system according to  claim 18 , further comprising a video signal output circuitry that is configured to output the first video signal in response to performing the camera signal processing on the first video signal. 
     
     
       20. The camera system according to  claim 12 , wherein the information bridge circuitry is further configured to
 determine whether the first video signal is being output by the first camera, and 
 output a color bar signal corresponding to the first video signal in response to determining that the first video signal is not being output by the first camera.